Near here (Aberdeenshire), a fairly rough 1930s bungalow sold a while ago, and was promptly demolished, to be replaced by a new detached house. Not a rural site as such, although a rural location, but a road of similar houses, mains drains and electricity.Following completion of the house, a large hole was dug in the rear garden, with a huge digger. Somewhere between 2x3 to 3x4 meters (I'm nosing through the fence). The spoil was then sieved using the digger bucket, the hole lined with plastic tarpaulins, and the stones from the sieving put in the bottom. I missed what happened next, but the huge pile of sieved spoil has gone, as has the hole BUT there are two corrugated pipes protruding from the ex hole, with manhole type lids. There was a trench from the house to the hole. I cannot think what could be in the hole other than a septic tank, but why install a septic tank with mains drainage outside, or what else could it be? Not enough time elapsed to build a nuclear bunker!

On Sun, 22 Sep 2019 11:38:20 +0100, Graeme >wrote:They want to save on water rates? (Darn sarf if you have a septic tankyou only pay for water used, not water disposed of, so rates abouthalf). But it doesn't sound like a septic tank. These days they're almostalways a Klargester type thing, like a huge round-bottomed flask witha single inspection cover, although for larger properties or a tankserving several properties, larger tanks with two inspection coverscan be used. But septic tanks also need adrainage field, usually a herring-bone arrangement of pipes fanningout from the tank and buried in trenches with gravel. You make nomention of that.Perhaps it's just a soakaway for rainwater drainage, but then why lineit with tarpaulins, unless they're permeable.

Why install a septic tank with main drainage available?

Graeme 6 years ago

In message <qm9ugg$c71$ snipped-for-privacy@dont-email.me, Brian Gaff snipped-for-privacy@blueyonder.co.uk> writes

Brian, it isn't worrying me at all. I just wondered why a tank of any description would be fitted, and now I know.

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Marland 6 years ago

Looking up the planning application online may give an answer as well , most Councils have a search facility to narrow down to an area though I suppose Scotland may have different rules.

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billyorange007 6 years ago

Knock on the front door and ask ?

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Graeme 6 years ago

In message snipped-for-privacy@mid.individual.net>, Marland snipped-for-privacy@btinternet.co.uk> writes

Thanks, but yes, I have already done that, but couldn't see anything about drainage.

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Graeme 6 years ago

In message <ugVhF.410763$ snipped-for-privacy@fx39.iad, FMurtz snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com writes

I did :-) Caught a guy yesterday, and I was wrong. Whatever is underground is nothing to do with soakaways or septic tanks, and is part of the heating system, but that is as much as I know. All that can be seen now is what looks like a couple of plastic manhole covers above ground.

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The Natural Philosopher 6 years ago

Ground source heat pump then

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Clive Arthur 6 years ago

I met this guy - and he looked like might have been A hat check clerk at an ice rink Which, in fact, he turned out to be. And I said: Oh boy. Right again

Cheers

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